Presentation_108 sem_2 _Mary Tyrone_ A Symbol of Addiction_.pptx

Mary Tyrone_ A Symbol of Addiction

1. Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University Date: 8 April 2024 Sem 2 | Batch 2023-25 Hardi Vhora “ Marry Tyrone: A symbol of Addiction

2. "Mary Tyrone: A Symbol of Addiction"

3. NAME:- HARDI VHORA ENROLLMENT NO.:- 5108230050 SEM:- 2 BATCH:- 2023-2025 PAPER NO.:- 108 ROLL NO.:- 08 PAPER CODE: - 22401 PAPER NAME:- The American Literature SUBMITTED TO:- Smt. Gardi Department of English MKBU

4. Table of Content Introduction of Author and Novel Motherhood Problems of Marry Tyrone Familial Dysfunction Generational Trauma and Cycles of Addiction Conclusion

5. Introduction of Eugene O'Neill :- Born: October 16, 1888, New York, New York, U.S. Died: November 27, 1953, Boston, Massachusetts. Eugene O'Neill: Foremost American dramatist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature in 1936. Masterpiece: "Long Day's Journey into Night" (1956), produced posthumously. Notable plays: "Beyond the Horizon" (1920), "Anna Christie" (1922), "Strange Interlude" (1928), "Ah! Wilderness" (1933), "The Iceman Cometh" (1946). (“Eugene O'Neill | Biography, Plays, & Facts”)

6. Pulitzer Prize-winning American masterpiece by Eugene O'Neill. Autobiographical portrayal of a dysfunctional family's day. James Tyrone: vain, self-obsessed, and miserly retired actor. Mary Tyrone: sinks into morphine-induced haze, feeling worthless. Jamie: bitter alcoholic son. Edmund: consumptive younger son, illness ignored by father. Themes of addiction, family dynamics, and hidden motives. (“Long Day's Journey into Night | Tragic Drama, Pulitzer Prize, Dysfunctional Family”)

7. # Overview of the Play:- Set in 1912, the play takes place over the course of a day in the Tyrone family's summer home. The family consists of James Tyrone, his wife Mary, and their sons Jamie and Edmund. The family members struggle with addiction, illness, and buried secrets. Mary Tyrone is addicted to morphine, which she began taking after the birth of her youngest son, Edmund. Jamie battles alcoholism and resentment towards his family. Edmund is diagnosed with tuberculosis, which exacerbates the family's tension and fear. James Tyrone, a former actor, is haunted by his past decisions and financial worries. Throughout the day, the family members confront each other and their own demons, leading to moments of both tension and tenderness. The play explores themes of family dysfunction, regret, and the search for meaning in the face of despair. Despite their conflicts and shortcomings, the Tyrone family members ultimately find solace and connection in their shared history and love for each other.

8. 2. Motherhood Problems of Marry Tyrone:- As the family history unfolds in the play, we learn that the series of unhappy events that eventually led to Mary Tyrone’s morphine addiction began with the early death of the second son, Eugene. Stricken with guilt and feeling like an unfit mother, Mary determined to have no more children. But convinced by James that a new baby would make her forget her grief, she gave birth to Edmund. Mary recalls her pregnancy: “I was afraid all the time I carried Edmund. I knew something ter- rible would happen. I knew I’d proved by the way I left Eugene that I wasn’t worthy to have another baby, and that God would punish me if I did. I never should have borne Edmund.”(766)

9. Mary's childbirth recovery reflects a perception of divine punishment, exacerbated by negligent medical care and societal neglect of spiritual anguish. The doctor's indifferent treatment mirrors modern society's exploitation and disregard for both human suffering and the environment. James Tyrone's hiring of a nurse further isolates Mary, leading to increased dependency on morphine to alleviate loneliness. Historical interpretations of labor pain and lactation as punishment perpetuate patriarchal views of female sexuality and motherhood. The "Fat Violet" episode symbolizes Mary's descent into addiction and societal condemnation, juxtaposed with Jamie's struggle with alcoholism. Mary's association with Fat Violet underscores the marginalized status of mothers within patriarchal culture.

10. Thus, Mary’s illness—her poor postnatal convalescence, which she takes to be the patriarchal God’s punishment of her, and her ensuing morphine addiction—can be seen as a modern cultural disease caused by patriarchal and materialistic values in combination.

11. 3. Familial Dysfunction:- Mary Tyrone struggles with morphine addiction, stemming from a past illness. Her addiction causes emotional distance and dysfunction within the family. Mary's denial of her addiction exacerbates the family's problems. She yearns for her youth and resents her current life, leading to bitterness. Mary's unresolved issues contribute to the family's inability to communicate effectively. Her attempts to escape reality through drugs further isolate her from her family. Mary's addiction reflects the broader theme of escapism in the play. Her behavior underscores the destructive impact of untreated mental health issues in the family. Mary's struggles highlight the cyclical nature of dysfunction within the Tyrone family. Despite moments of clarity, Mary ultimately remains trapped in her addiction, perpetuating the family's dysfunction.

12. 4. Generational Trauma and Cycle of Addiction:- Mary Tyrone's generational trauma: Trapped in a cycle of addiction passed down through her family's history of substance abuse and dysfunction. Tyrone family's intergenerational struggles: Reflects the pervasive impact of trauma on subsequent generations, perpetuating patterns of addiction and dysfunction. Mary's addiction: Symbolizes the inheritance of pain and coping mechanisms from previous generations, manifesting in her struggle with drugs. Mary's cycle of addiction: Mirrors the cyclical nature of trauma, as she grapples with her own demons while unwittingly passing on her struggles to her children. Tyrone family dynamics: Highlight the complex interplay between individual choices and inherited trauma, shaping each character's journey within the play.

13. O’Neill utilizes the Tyrones to explore the intricate dynamics of family relationships, aiming for a deeper understanding of familial bonds. Alcoholism threatens the cohesion of the Tyrone family, leading to a sense of entrapment and isolation among its members. Mary's loneliness and chemical dependency stem from a profound sense of disconnection and unmet needs within her family. Mary's aspiration for freedom clashes with the societal expectations imposed upon her as a wife and mother. The Tyrones' home represents a space devoid of Mary's influence, symbolizing her unfulfilled dreams and aspirations. Mary's drug abuse may stem from a desperate attempt to regain control and escape her present circumstances. Mary's unwavering ideal of a home hinders her ability to adapt to reality, perpetuating her sense of dissatisfaction and longing. O’Neill highlights the struggle between fantasy and reality within the context of familial relationships, emphasizing the consequences of unmet expectations and suppressed desires.

14. 5. Conclusion:- In Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night," Mary Tyrone serves as a poignant symbol of addiction, embodying complex themes of motherhood struggles, familial dysfunction, and the perpetuation of generational trauma and addiction cycles. Through her character, O'Neill illustrates the devastating impact of addiction on individuals and families, highlighting the interplay between personal struggles and broader societal issues. Mary Tyrone's portrayal underscores the pervasive nature of addiction and its profound effects on both the individual and those closest to them, resonating with audiences as a poignant reflection of the human condition.

15. # References:- “Eugene O'Neill | Biography, Plays, & Facts.” Britannica , 29 March 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eugene-ONeill. Accessed 8 April 2024. Gonzalez, Alvin Alexis. “The Cycles Of Trauma In Eugene O’Neill’S Long Day’S Journey ’S Journey Into Night.” https://rio.tamiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=etds. “Long Day's Journey into Night | Tragic Drama, Pulitzer Prize, Dysfunctional Family.” Britannica , https://www.britannica.com/topic/Long-Days-Journey-into-Night-play-by-ONeill. Accessed 8 April 2024. Omori, Yuji. “Wandering about in the Moonless Darkness: The Plight of the Mother in Long Day's Journey Into Night.” https://jstor-mkbu.refread.com/stable/10.5325/eugeoneirevi.37.1.0057?searchText=marry+tyrone&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dmarry%2Btyrone%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Acd647183eaf390923bece.

16. Please keep this slide for attribution

17. Resources